V8 drivers try out the Red Checkers

New Zealand V8 drivers John McIntyre and Andy Booth, along with Porsche GT3 driver Craig Baird, enjoyed a unique opportunity to fly with the Royal New Zealand Air Force ‘Red Checkers’ aerobatic team last Friday.



The New Zealand V8s race at Timaru’s Levels circuit this weekend (1-2 March) and during Friday’s testing sessions, the offer came for the three drivers to join the Red Checkers team for a brief flight.



McIntyre, the defending champion and current V8 series leader, says it was very impressive to have the opportunity to fly with the Red Checkers, which were flying from Timaru Airport as part of an air force training exercise.



“We were taken through a range of their aerobatic manoeuvres,” says McIntyre. “My pilot bought our plane in to fly upside-down just metres above the plane Andy Booth was in. The plane control is very impressive.”



McIntyre says he was then offered the opportunity to take control of the CT-4E (Civilian Trainer-4E). “We flew out over the sea and I was allowed to take control. I made left and right turns and then my pilot asked if I wanted to try a loop. Of course I said yes! I dropped it down to about 500 feet above the sea, then pulled the stick back to go into a loop about 1200 feet high. The sensation of the g-forces while you’re trying to keep the plane straight – there’s a lot going on!”



McIntyre adds: “I can really relate to the multiple sources of information the pilots are processing – it’s not unlike what we’re dealing with while we’re racing. My pilot is the squadron leader so he was monitoring where the other planes were in the formation, radioing commands and flying his own plane with absolute precision. It was a great opportunity and I’m delighted we could then give the pilots some hot laps in our V8s later in the afternoon.”